PM Update: More cold, remaining mostly dry

By
Jason Samenow

A few flurries late Saturday?

The cold, dry weather pattern is becoming a bit of a broken record, although we do have a shot at some precipitation in the extended range. Highs reached the mid-to-upper 30s today under mostly sunny skies after a "surprise" morning dusting of snow in the western suburbs. Chilly weather continues tomorrow with a chance of some conversational snow flurries late in the day.

Through Tonight: Last night we dropped from the teens in the suburbs to the low-to-mid 20s downtown and we do it again tonight. Clear skies early on become partly cloudy late at night.

Tomorrow (Saturday): For most of the day, we'll have a mix of clouds and sun. Light winds from the south help temperatures near or just barely cross the 40 degree threshold for highs. Late in the afternoon and toward evening, a cold front approaches which increases clouds and could bring a few snow flurries, mainly in the north and west suburbs. No accumulation expected.

It could happen tomorrow...: The U.S. Geological Survey announced they have developed a scenario for planning purposes in which a storm dumps 10 feet of rain and results in more than $300 billion in damage in California. The ARkstorm scenario, according to USGS "combines prehistoric geologic flood history in California with modern flood mapping and climate-change projections to produce a hypothetical, but plausible, scenario aimed at preparing the emergency response community for this type of hazard."

A more specific and immediate simulation was performed just one year before Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, it's likely the recommendations for preparedness in this report will lead to nothing, just as the warnings and recommendations for a possible direct hit by a major hurricane on New Orleans were essentially ignored.

For anyone here who doesn't like snow, even the people who cry themselves to sleep at night at the thought of getting a blizzard, I don't understand why you hate snow so much. I can think of 5 reasons why anyone could be a snowlover:

1. Snow is beautiful.
2. Snow gives you an excuse not to show up for work.
3. You and your spouse can have some alone time while the kids are out sledding.
4. It makes for great photo opportunities.
5. You get to enjoy the photos of Walter's snow sculptures!

Those are only five, and if I thought about it some more, I bet you I could come up with ten, heck, maybe even twenty!